England game behind closed doors

6 February 2009 14:20pm

By Lydia Pearson

The game between England and Italy will be played behind closed doors

Worcester Warriors have announced that England's opening game in the RBS U20 Six Nations against Italy at Sixways Stadium tonight will be played behind closed doors with no access to supporters in the interests of public safety.

The international was moved to a 6.30pm kick-off to ensure that the game went ahead and the pitch at Sixways Stadium was playable.

However, following consultation with the RFU, plus guidance from the emergency services and Met Office, the decision has now been made to play the game behind closed doors in the interests of public safety.

"As a club we were always confident of staging this game and we know that many people across the region wanted to come to this match," said Charlie Little, General Manager at Worcester Warriors.

"Yet again, our groundstaff have worked tirelessly throughout this week to get the game on. However public safety concerns were the most important factor in coming to this conclusion.

"This has been an extremely difficult decision as we all want the game to go ahead and for fans to watch the international match. But with further sub-zero temperatures forecast from early this evening the melted snow is set to freeze and become extremely hazardous after the game and around the stadium complex.

"The emergency services are already working to full capacity and people across the country are being advised to stay at home unless completely necessary. We do not want to put added pressure on the emergency services on what they expect to be a difficult night."

Little also revealed why the game could not be rescheduled for a later date, with the Italian U20 squad and officials scheduled to return home on Saturday afternoon.

"We are in a tournament environment and the RFU want this game to be played. Looking at the forthcoming weather forecast it was felt that this was the only opportunity in the coming days to play this game," he added.

"The issue with moving the fixture to a later date is that we have all the people involved with this game ready and set to go at Sixways, including all the support staff.

"The temperatures are set to drop below freezing again on Saturday night and this would then create the possibility that the pitch would be unplayable on Sunday."

Supporters are now advised that there will be strictly no access to Sixways Stadium complex.